The objective of the Nairobi work programme (NWP) is to assist all Parties, in particular developing
countries, including the least developed countries and small island developing States, to improve
their understanding and assessment of impacts, vulnerability and adaptation, and to make informed
decisions on practical adaptation actions and measures to respond to climate change on a sound,
scientific, technical and socioeconomic basis, taking into account current and future climate change
and variability.

The following presentations provide an overview of the Nairobi work programme, including; its
objective, evolution, operating context, mandates and modalities; and the technical work carried out
under it.

For full screen mode, please click the 'open in a new window' button at the bottom right hand
corner of each presentation.

The 'overview' presentation above includes audio narratives. To download the narrative on the
evolution of the adaptation landscape, click here. To download the
narrative on the NWP mandates and modalities for knowledge support on adaptation, click here.
Please note: right-click the media bar and choose 'save as...' to download a copy to your
machine.

Expected outcomes

The expected outcomes of the programme of work are:

a) Enhanced capacity at international, regional, national, sectoral and local levels to further
identify and understand impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation responses, and to select and
implement practical, effective and high priority adaptation actions;

b) Improved information and advice to the Conference of the Parties (COP) and its subsidiary bodies
on the scientific, technical and socio-economic aspects of impacts, vulnerability and adaptation;

c) Enhanced development, dissemination and use of knowledge from practical adaptation activities;

In line with Decision
17/CP.19, the NWP should respond to knowledge needs identified by Parties and the knowledge needs
arising from the implementation of the Cancun
Adaptation Framework, and other relevant workstreams and bodies under the Convention. See
linkages of the NWP to relevant processes and entities under and outside the Convention here.

The NWP is structured around the following nine work areas, consistent with the
action-oriented sub-themes as contained in Decision
2/CP.11:

The full set of information on activities and resources for each work area is available from the
links to the work areas above.

In addition to the work areas, the following issues will be considered under the NWP, as mandated in
Decision
17/CP.19:

Ecosystems;

Human settlements;

Water resources;

Health

Further, activities under the NWP will integrate gender issues, indigenous and traditional
knowledge, and the role of and impacts on ecosystems.

Modalities

The modalities for implementation of the NWP, depending on the nature of the specific activities and
availability of resources, may include:

a) Workshops and meetings;

b) The drawing on of knowledge, expertise and input from experts, practitioners and relevant
organizations, including to prepare reports and other materials for considerations by Parties and
the SBSTA;

c) The building on and/or updating of relevant existing compendiums and web-based resources;

d) Targeted submissions, including those based on questionnaires, from Parties and organizations;

e) Reports and technical papers, assessments prepared by the secretariat, Convention expert groups
or experts from other organizations;

f) Other modalities, such as a group or groups of experts, upon agreement by the SBSTA.